Coinbase Custody vs Zodia Custody — Head-to-Head Custody Comparison

An independent, data-driven comparison of Coinbase Custody and Zodia Custody across security, insurance, fees, regulatory compliance, and more.

Verdict

Quick Verdict

Coinbase Custody scores 8.2 vs Zodia Custody's 7.2. Coinbase Custody leads in 7 of 8 categories.

Coinbase Custody is better suited for ETF issuers, Hedge funds, Asset managers. Zodia Custody is better suited for Banks, Asset managers, Institutions.

8.2

Very GoodCustody Score

Coinbase Custody

7.2

GoodCustody Score

Zodia Custody

Scores

Score Comparison

Weighted scores across all 8 custody criteria.

Criterion	Weight	Coinbase Custody	Zodia Custody	Winner
Security	20%	9.0	8.5	Coinbase Custody
Insurance	15%	8.0	7.5	Coinbase Custody
Regulatory	15%	9.5	8.5	Coinbase Custody
Fee Transparency	10%	7.0	5.0	Coinbase Custody
Track Record	15%	8.5	6.5	Coinbase Custody
Withdrawal Flexibility	10%	7.5	7.0	Coinbase Custody
Reporting & Audit	10%	9.0	8.0	Coinbase Custody
Counterparty Diversification	5%	2.0	3.0	Zodia Custody
Overall Score	100%	8.2	7.2	Coinbase Custody

Visual

Score Radar

Visual overlay of Coinbase Custody and Zodia Custody across all categories.

Coinbase CustodyZodia Custody

Deep Dive

Category-by-Category Analysis

A deeper look at how each provider performs in every scoring criterion.

Security (9.0 vs 8.5)

Coinbase Custody uses Proprietary cold storage key management with 98%+ cold storage in cold storage and regular penetration testing. Compliance: SOC 1 Type 2, SOC 2 Type 2. Incident history: No custody-specific breaches. Coinbase exchange has had minor incidents..

Zodia Custody uses Institutional cold storage key management with Majority cold in cold storage and regular penetration testing. Compliance: SOC 2 Type 2. Incident history: No incidents.

Insurance (8.0 vs 7.5)

Coinbase Custody offers Significant coverage (exact amount not publicly disclosed) via Multiple carriers. Crime insurance covering theft from breach of physical or cyber security. Coinbase publicly listed — financial transparency via SEC filings.

Zodia Custody offers Institutional coverage via parent companies via Via Standard Chartered/Northern Trust. Backed by two of the world's largest financial institutions.

Regulatory (9.5 vs 8.5)

Coinbase Custody holds New York BitLicense, NY Trust Charter (Coinbase Custody Trust Company) and is a qualified custodian operating in United States. Coinbase Custody Trust Company, LLC is a fiduciary under New York State Banking Law. Publicly traded (COIN) providing financial transparency.

Zodia Custody holds FCA registered (UK) and is not a qualified custodian operating in United Kingdom / Global. FCA registered. Backed by Standard Chartered and Northern Trust.

Fee Transparency (7.0 vs 5.0)

Coinbase Custody charges 0.50% AUM (50bps) — tiered for large balances in annual custody fees with Varies per transaction. Pricing negotiable for large institutional clients. ETF custodian arrangements have separate terms.

Zodia Custody charges Custom in annual custody fees with Custom per transaction. Backed by Standard Chartered and Northern Trust.

Track Record (8.5 vs 6.5)

Coinbase Custody was founded in 2018 and is headquartered in San Francisco, CA (Coinbase Global). AUM: $300B+ (Coinbase platform total). Incident history: No custody-specific breaches. Coinbase exchange has had minor incidents..

Zodia Custody was founded in 2020 and is headquartered in London, UK. AUM: Not publicly disclosed. Incident history: No incidents.

Withdrawal Flexibility (7.5 vs 7.0)

Coinbase Custody withdrawal fees: Network fees + processing fee. Minimum account: $500,000. Supported assets: Bitcoin, Ethereum, 400+ assets.

Zodia Custody withdrawal fees: Network fees. Minimum account: Institutional only. Supported assets: Bitcoin, Ethereum, Multiple digital assets.

Reporting & Audit (9.0 vs 8.0)

Coinbase Custody: SOC compliance is SOC 1 Type 2, SOC 2 Type 2. As a qualified custodian, it meets SEC reporting requirements.

Zodia Custody: SOC compliance is SOC 2 Type 2. Not classified as a qualified custodian.

Counterparty Diversification (2.0 vs 3.0)

Coinbase Custody is a qualified custodian provider. Key management: Proprietary cold storage with multi-layer security. Air-gapped signing infrastructure..

Zodia Custody is a qualified custodian provider. Key management: Institutional custody backed by Standard Chartered and Northern Trust..

Fees

Fee Comparison

Side-by-side fee breakdown for Coinbase Custody and Zodia Custody.

Fee Type	Coinbase Custody	Zodia Custody
Setup Fee	$10,000 one-time	Custom
Annual Custody	0.50% AUM (50bps) — tiered for large balances	Custom
Transaction	Varies	Custom
Withdrawal	Network fees + processing fee	Network fees

Coinbase Custody: Pricing negotiable for large institutional clients. ETF custodian arrangements have separate terms.

Zodia Custody: Backed by Standard Chartered and Northern Trust.

Features

Feature Comparison

Checklist of features across both providers.

Feature	Coinbase Custody	Zodia Custody
Cold storage for 400+ assets	✓	✗
Custodian for major Bitcoin ETFs	✓	✗
DeFi access	✗	✓
Dedicated account management	✓	✗
FCA registered	✗	✓
Institutional-grade security	✗	✓
Integration with Coinbase Prime for trading	✓	✗
Northern Trust partnership	✗	✓
Regulatory reporting and compliance tools	✓	✗
Staking (governance participation from cold storage)	✓	✗
Staking services	✗	✓
Standard Chartered backed	✗	✓

Recommendation

Who Should Choose Which?

Coinbase Custody is better if you…

✓Are a etf issuers
✓Are a hedge funds
✓Are a asset managers
✓Are a institutions
✓Want: Custodian for BlackRock, Fidelity, and other major ETFs — ultimate institutional validation
✓Want: Publicly traded company — financial transparency via SEC filings
✓Want: SOC 1 & SOC 2 Type 2 compliant

Zodia Custody is better if you…

✓Are a banks
✓Are a asset managers
✓Are a institutions
✓Are a family offices
✓Want: Backed by Standard Chartered — tier-1 bank pedigree
✓Want: Northern Trust partnership
✓Want: FCA registered

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Coinbase Custody or Zodia Custody better for Bitcoin custody?

Coinbase Custody scores 8.2 vs 7.2 in our weighted Custody Score. Coinbase Custody leads in 7 of 8 scoring categories. However, the best choice depends on your specific needs: Coinbase Custody is best for ETF issuers and Hedge funds, while Zodia Custody suits Banks and Asset managers.

What is the difference between Coinbase Custody and Zodia Custody?

Coinbase Custody is a qualified custodian provider, while Zodia Custody is a qualified custodian provider. Coinbase Custody excels in Regulatory, whereas Zodia Custody is strongest in Security.

How do Coinbase Custody and Zodia Custody fees compare?

Coinbase Custody charges 0.50% AUM (50bps) — tiered for large balances annual custody fees with Varies transaction fees. Zodia Custody charges Custom annual custody fees with Custom transaction fees.

Which is more secure, Coinbase Custody or Zodia Custody?

Coinbase Custody scores 9.0/10 for security while Zodia Custody scores 8.5/10. Coinbase Custody uses Proprietary cold storage key management, and Zodia Custody uses Institutional cold storage.